A glorious sunny Easter Sunday was spent outside in the garden with family friends for lunch, the first time seeing anyone properly since before xmas was a treat. This was followed by days with cold and strong northerly winds where not much happened. This morning I went down to Selsey as it was the first day for a while where the winds had swung round to the West, not ideal for Spring passage but at least it was a change. It was generally quiet, with 3 Wheatears, 4 Swallows and 5 Red-throated Divers, my first of the year were highlights......... I headed home around 11am.
Throughout the winter the odd national rarity stayed around and none more anticipated than the Northern Mockingbird (the 3rd record for the UK) in Exmouth, Devon, a US bird in appearance is a bit of a cross between a thrush and a cuckoo. A lot of birders hoped it would hang on until the lockdown restrictions lifted and it duly obliged, allowing many to make a worthwhile journey to the west country. I had entertained the odd thought of going, but in the circumstance (being fairly conscious of family opinions) was not a strong enough urge to make the trip. Today was the first morning of negative sighting reports of the bird in Devon, suggesting it had eventually departed its wintering venue and as with many other migrants a quick assumption that it would never be seen again..... that was until an incredible report at midday today, that a Northern Mockingbird was seen briefly in a garden in Pulborough in Sussex late this morning last seen flying towards the RSPB reserve. I'd only just got back from Selsey and was thinking about lunch more than anything but was keeping an eye on the reports and sure enough at 1pm a report came through that the bird was still there. I drove to Pulborough village car park and walked the short distance down to the footpath that leads along the riverbank and onwards to the RSPB reserve a group of c20 birders were already there and the Northern Mockingbird was immediately visible in nearby brush that had been cut from Willows and remained in the area for the next couple of hours. A number of people turned up to see the bird and thankfully it was in a large open area which allowed for easy social distancing. Quite amazing really that the bird should decide to turn up here after a straight 130 mile journey.
Having had my fill, I went over to the RSPB reserve where a Pied Flycatcher had been reported the last couple of days. Filled with the sound of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, it took a little while to locate the superb Spring male Pied Flycatcher which gave good views but was obviously covering a wide range on the reserve. A bonus here was a Barn Owl, which was hunting in the afternoon sun from fence posts on the edge of a field.
Turned into a surprisingly good afternoon.
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Barn Owl |
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| Barn Owl |
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| Barn Owl |
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| Barn Owl |
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